RealGM

the Kings have been incredibly inconsistent this year? We have had a lot of streaks. Started out with 3 losses, then a win and loss, 4 wins, 4 losses, 4 wins, and now 3 losses. We have been in many games this season, but we can't close out on the road. And Noc tonight was simply . Can't believe that. But again we have been playing well, but need more than Evans to keep us adrift. Thoughts?

[edit] Changed thread title to make it less ambiguous - ICMTM

JT put up 20/9 against one of the toughest in the paint teams with West and Okafor. Young teams are very inconsistent. We have a front line with only 5 years in the NBA (The bigs have not blocked any shots in a few games either). They are also really missing KMart and Garcia who are vets who actually make most late free throws on the road. Beno has been very good also and usually Nocioni plays well but was terrible today.

When CWebb first came here they were just above .500 for 2 years and won no playoff series. Then their 3rd year they won the Jazz series. It takes time to build a title contender.

I'm still happy with our team. I'm not expecting playoffs, so I'm expecting losses. There's a lot of things to look forward to i.e. Evans being a superstar.

People need to keep in mind expectations for this team before the year started. What I like about this team: They fight EVERY night. Sometimes they can be boneheads and stupid, but they never lose due to a lack of effort.

cdt3 wrote:JT put up 20/9 against one of the toughest in the paint teams with West and Okafor. Young teams are very inconsistent. We have a front line with only 5 years in the NBA (The bigs have not blocked any shots in a few games either). They are also really missing KMart and Garcia who are vets who actually make most late free throws on the road. Beno has been very good also and usually Nocioni plays well but was terrible today.

When CWebb first came here they were just above .500 for 2 years and won no playoff series. Then their 3rd year they won the Jazz series. It takes time to build a title contender.

Actually no, we beat the Suns for our first playoff series win in 20 years (2001).

Indeed, that Jazz series we lost in 5.

^^ Then we would go on to beat the Jazz in at least a couple of other series, but yeah, the Phoenix series was the first win.

But yeah, this team is pretty inconsistent. But outside of the first few games, I think it has largely been a factor of competition, and the fact that we just can't seem to win games on the road.

Young teams generally are inconsistent because young players are inconsistent. Outside Nocioni, no one really who is factor is an older player besides K9 who just nowe started playing again

This team is consistent, lose on the road, win at home. That's the reason for our streaks. I suppose the fact that we have been close in some of these road games, instead of getting destroyed like we did last year, is somewhat encouraging. We seem to go on these 2 or 3 minute scoring droughts at key points in the game. If we can ever win one of these close games on the road I think it will build a lot of confidence going forward.

The biggest problem with the team's defense is its inability to play consistently. Our rotations look sloppy and we look to be asleep on so many defensive possessions, and that's leads to so many easy baskets. PW defensive schemes have not been good at all...

nocioni on west really!!!!

Nicky Nix Nook wrote:I'm still happy with our team. I'm not expecting playoffs, so I'm expecting losses. There's a lot of things to look forward to i.e. Evans being a superstar.

People need to keep in mind expectations for this team before the year started. What I like about this team: They fight EVERY night. Sometimes they can be boneheads and stupid, but they never lose due to a lack of effort.

I don't mind losing we can't win 'em all. Its how we lose that's frustrating...

I think the problem with West was that if we were going to put Kenny on him, we should have left him alone. Let West get his as much as he can against Kenny and focus on everyone else. But we were still doubling hard, so the defensive aspect of putting Kenny on West was pointless. So we might as well have put Noc on him if we were going to double hard anyway, since then we'd at least have another offensive asset.

mitchweber wrote:I think the problem with West was that if we were going to put Kenny on him, we should have left him alone. Let West get his as much as he can against Kenny and focus on everyone else. But we were still doubling hard, so the defensive aspect of putting Kenny on West was pointless. So we might as well have put Noc on him if we were going to double hard anyway, since then we'd at least have another offensive asset.

Ding ding ding...winner winner chicken dinner. ALthough Noc is STRUGGLING the past couple games shooting wise.

I got a quick question for Kings fans.

What is the story with the Kings giving big minutes to line ups with only one guard? The past few games have featured a starting line up of Evans, Nocioni, Greene, Thompson and Hawes. Omri Casspi often gets subbed for Greene or Nocioni. So are they projecting Greene as a 6'10" shooting guard? Is Nocioni guarding the two? Is this just a temporary thing until they get Garcia and Martin back?

They like the mismatch of having Tyreke be guarded by a PG. Having Greene start at the 2, they pretty much have to stick with the traditional matchups. As the game progresses and players are sub'd, it changes around. For example, the spurs put Ginoblli on Evans some last night, but when Omri came in the game he had to guard him.

a-rod wrote:The biggest problem with the team's defense is its inability to play consistently. Our rotations look sloppy and we look to be asleep on so many defensive possessions, and that's leads to so many easy baskets. PW defensive schemes have not been good at all...

Which is almost heart breaking because we played amazing defense in Utah. I thought that was something that was going to keep up.

cdt3 wrote:JT put up 20/9 against one of the toughest in the paint teams with West and Okafor. Young teams are very inconsistent. We have a front line with only 5 years in the NBA (The bigs have not blocked any shots in a few games either). They are also really missing KMart and Garcia who are vets who actually make most late free throws on the road. Beno has been very good also and usually Nocioni plays well but was terrible today.

When CWebb first came here they were just above .500 for 2 years and won no playoff series. Then their 3rd year they won the Jazz series. It takes time to build a title contender.

QFT!

We're a young team. My coworker keeps saying..."the Kings are on the way up!" It's true though! Think about it like this. If we are on the way up...we are coming from the bottom. We have to go through a lot (of teams) to get there. It's going to take a while.

ICMTM wrote:

cdt3 wrote:JT put up 20/9 against one of the toughest in the paint teams with West and Okafor. Young teams are very inconsistent. We have a front line with only 5 years in the NBA (The bigs have not blocked any shots in a few games either). They are also really missing KMart and Garcia who are vets who actually make most late free throws on the road. Beno has been very good also and usually Nocioni plays well but was terrible today.

When CWebb first came here they were just above .500 for 2 years and won no playoff series. Then their 3rd year they won the Jazz series. It takes time to build a title contender.

QFT!

We're a young team. My coworker keeps saying..."the Kings are on the way up!" It's true though! Think about it like this. If we are on the way up...we are coming from the bottom. We have to go through a lot (of teams) to get there. It's going to take a while.

And there are a lot of teams on their last legs....Spurs, Suns, and not soon after Mavs, Lakers, Nuggets.

We're right there with OKC and Portland as some of the top young teams of the West.

^^I know you don't want to hear this, but the Lakers have still got lots of legs left. Kobe is showing no signs of any kind of real decline, and Bynum is looking like everything he was hyped up to be.

The way I'm viewing this year is that it's our battle testing. We are throwing Evans and thompson and Hawes into the fire and we are waiting to see what happens. Between our limited Capspace and where ever our draft pick ends up will help us to alleviate some of the pressure on these guys next year but this year is about testing them and forcing them to grow as players.

mitchweber wrote:^^I know you don't want to hear this, but the Lakers have still got lots of legs left. Kobe is showing no signs of any kind of real decline, and Bynum is looking like everything he was hyped up to be.

Nah, I don't buy that. Kobe, Pau, Ron and Lamar got 3-4 years left, then they'll decline fast. After that, then what? Bynum? HA! I HOPE they build around that dufus. They'll be mediocre for years to come. He's no franchise player. Mark my words, barring another Pau Gasolesque trade, the Lakers will be mired in mediocrity for the next decade after Kobe goes. Book that.

I guess I misunderstood what you meant time-wise. I agree they have about 3-4 years left with the team as is. But I wouldn't underestimate Bynum. He may not be a franchise player, but he's looking like a damn, damn good building block right now. At the very least, I see him becoming a good second option/great third option and more importantly a great defensive anchor.